Improvement in rendering safes, vaults, and chests fire-proof



NITED STATES lPATENT (")FEIeEo TnEoDonE HYATT, 0E NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN RENDERING SAFES, VAULTS, AND CHESTS FIRE-PROOF,

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 98,381, dated December 28, 1869.

of a new combination of heat-resisting materials, and a new method of applying the same, when employed for filling the spaces between the inner and outer walls of fire-proof safes, bank-vaults, and other structures, and doors for the same. t v v My invention is more particularly applicable to that class of safes in which the vapor or steam producing materials, as water, water vsolidified with plaster, or any chemical salt containing water of crystallization, are inclosed in hermetically-sealed cans or vessels, such cans or vessels usually being constructed of some non-corrosive metal, glass, or earthenware, and of such forin and size as renders them most convenient, efiicacious, and enduring when placed in their position between the inner and outer walls of the safe or other structure.

It is vmanifest the most perfect iilling for lire-proof safes and other structures will be that which is incombustible, lion-conductive of heat, and sufficiently absorbentc to drink up any moisture escaping'from the cans or vessels through imperfect construction or accidental injury to` them, thus preserving the contents 01' book-case perfectly dry and free from dampness and mold.

It is also obvious the incombustible nonheat-conducting. materials for filling safes and other structures may also possess within themselves reserve force or power of giving off vapor or steam, under the application of heat, to aid in preserving the contents of such structures.

To secure these valuable results, I employ any dry non-heat-conducting' absorbent earth' or earths, combined and mixed in proper proportions with any chemical salt, containing water of crystallization, and in practice I'use one part of such dry salt. I prefer one part carbonate of soda combined with two parts of dry earth or earths. 0f such earth l prefer sulphate of lime, but do not confine myself to these proportions of salt and earth, as they l may be varied to any extent lfound desirable. The cans or vessels containing the gas or steam producing materials I make three and one-half inches thick, and of any suitable width and length, and prefer to lill them with water, so`

lidi'fied by plaster, as set forth in my patent of February 2, 1869, No. 86,547.

I apply the above dry compound as a pack- A ing or filling between the external walls of the safe and other slructures, and the cans or vessels containing gas or steam producing man terials, so as to entirely insulate them from said walls, by interposing about two inches in thickness of the packing' between the cans and the external walls. I also insulate the walls of the interior closet or book-case from the vessels orlcansby interposing about one inch in thickness of the above fillings between the cans and the interior walls of book-case, which dry non-heat-conducting filling'in this location not only serves to retard and keep back the heat, but also prevents condensation of atmospheric moisture upon the surface of the book-case and its contents. I also insulate the cans or vessels from each other by interposing in each instance about one-half inch in thickness of above-named filling between them, which :filling or packing in all cases operates as an elastic bed or yielding cushion,

.to .protect and preserve the cans or vessels from injury by shocks or concussion.

A safe or other structure made on the above plan operates, when exposed to a conti-agration, as follows, viz: The outer wall of lling being composed of dry plaster and chemical fsalt containing water of crystallization, it acts as non-conductor of heat by giving up in form of vapor or steam the water of the salt, which, j

coming in contact with the plaster, first sets or indurates it before passing oli', and leaves this wall of plaster filled with countlessl aircells, that were formerly occupied by the minute crystals of salt. Ilhis indurated honeycombed wall of plaster, still capable of absorbin g large quantity of moisture, seizes the vapor as it escapes from the cans of stealnproducing materials, and, retaining it entangled in the net-work of cells, prevents its rapid conduction outward, thus prolonging its protecting power. When the cans containing water solidified by plaster are exhausted of their water by evaporation the plaster still remains in position and form, constituting a protecting-wall of porousmaterial, and non-conductive of heat to the last degree. Finally, after the protecting power of both above-named walls is totally expended, there remains the inner wall of filling between cans and bookvase to yield its vapor before destruction-of the safe by fire can be accomplished.

To enable others skilled in the art to whichV my invention applies to make use of said invention, I -will proceed to describe its construction and operation, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in whiehv A is the outer shell or case of iron. B is the interior wall or shell of the book-case. F is the cave, in which the valuable books and papers to be preserved from the re are placed. 1) D are the interior walls of dry filling bctween book-case and cansV or vessels, and between the cans themselves. E Eis the outer wall of filling between the cans and external wall or shell.` c c c c represent the cans or vessels of various forms.

The iron safe being placed upright, with top 0nd open, I proceed to pack in the door or bottom of the safe a layer oi' abovedescribed dry material about two inches thick, and -covering the whole space; then place the cans containing gas or steam producing materials around all sides of` the safe, but leaving-two inches of space between them and wall or shell of iron. When these are in position, the can (or cans) for the door or bottom is let down between the upright ones to its place, and resting on the bed of dry material. I then cover this can one inch deep with dry compound, and

put the book-case in place, resting on it, leaving one inch ot space between it and the cans around the sides. I now commence to pack closely shell and cans, and between the cans and ot' book-case, andbetween the cans themselves with above described dry material, to full cans, the spaces around all the sides and above the vacant spaces between the outer shell Vsteam producing materials from each other by 4the means and for the purposes mentioned.

height of the cans, on top of which, including i hook-case, is packed some dry material one inch deep. On this the top can is placed, ex- 5 tending over book-case to outside ot' all the top of this last can are then packed to full height of safe with the dry material, after which the iron plate forming top of safe is fastened in place, and the safe is completed and ready for use. y

The great value of my invention consists in makinga safethat is perfectly dry at all times,

thus avoiding all injury to books and papers by dampness and mold, while at same time having a superior non-heat-conductive Wall, containing twoor three times greater quantity of gas or steam producing materials than any other known, these materials being in best condition and combination to preserve a safe unharmed for longer time through a conagration than any hithertodiscovered.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim therein as new, and' desire tov secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. rllhe use of cans or vessels, constructed of any non -corrosive material or materials, ot' any suitable form and size, containing gas or steam producing materials, when said cansor vessels are placed in any position between the` vinner and outer walls or shells of fire proof safes'and other structures, and enveloped and insulated fromfsuch walls and from each other by means of a filling or packing of dry nonheat-conducting absorbent earth or earths, when such earths are combined in any proportions with any chemical salt or salts containing Water of crystallization.

2. Insulating the vessels holding gas or steam producing materials from the external Walls ofiisafes and other structures by means of above-described dry compound.

3. Insulating the vessel containing steam. generating materials from the interior wallsi or shells of book-case by the means and for `the purposes set forth.

4. Insulating the cans containing gas or Witnesses: n

y J. L. PHILLIPS,

GEO. C. LAMBRIGHT.

THEODORE HYATT. 

